Variable-speed mechanism.



Patented Apr. 9, 190];

2 Shaats$heet l.

INVENTOR x w c No. 67l,895.

A. G. S. LYFOBD.

VARIABLE SPEED mEcHAm-sm.

(Application filed Dec. 10, 1900.) (N o M 0 d e l.)

WITNESSES 4&1 39%" no: seams PETER! 0o, Pumauma, WASNINGTON. u. c

No. 67l,895. Patented Apr. 9, 190i. A. G. S. LYFOBD.

VARIABLE SPEED MECHANISM.

(Application filed Dec. 10, 1900.) (No Model.) I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

INVENTOR Ma Q, zflm w A I WITNESSES hm uonavs Prrzns 00., PNOTO-LIYHQ. wxsummo UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR GEORGE SEDDON LYFORD, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

VARIABLE-SPEED MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 671,895, dated April 9, 1901.

Application filed December 10, 1900. Serial No. 39,384:- (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR GEORGE Sun.

DON LYFORD, builder, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Loftus Works, Loftus road, Shepherds Bush, London,England, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Mechanism for Transmitting Power at Variable Speeds, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to mechanism for transmitting power at variable speeds through the medium of driving-belts and a new construction of expanding and contracting pulley, combined with special means for actuating the same.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents a side elevation of my improved mechanism, a portion of the framing being broken away, as adapted to and applied in connection with the driving-gear of a mechanicallypropelled road-vehicle. Fig. 2 is a top side plan of the said mechanism. Fig.3 represents, upon an enlarged scale, a longitudinal vertical section of one of the improved expanding and contracting pulleys employed in connection with the said mechanism upon the dotted line no. This view shows the pulley expanded to almost the greatest diameter. Fig. 4. is a similar sectional view to Fig. 3, but shows the same contracted. to practically the smallest diameter obtainable. Fig. 5 represents a longitudinal vertical section of one of the sliding sleeves employed in connection with the said expanding and contracting pulleys. Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section of Fig. 5 upon the dotted line 00. Fig. 7 represents in edge view and side elevation one of the series of jointed links employed as the connections between the adjustable parts of the pulleys andthe sliding sleeves.

The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

In my improved variable-speed mechanism I employ a pair of expanding and contracting pulleys A and B, each comprising an expanding and contracting periphery a, made up of a series of overlapping plate-sections I), each mounted upon a sliding carrier 1), whose ends are arranged to work, respectively, with in pairs of radial guides or slots 0, out within opposite checks or plates 0, fixed to the axle d and constituting the sides of the pulley. The radially-sliding segments 1) of the periphery are operated by means of a series of arms or links 6, radiating from the said axle and connected at the outer ends 6 with the carriers b of the said segments, while their other ends are jointed at c to a bush or sleeve f, sliding upon the axle toward or away from the pulley by suitable lever mechanism, such as is hereinafter described.

The peripheral plates or segments arranged between the fixed cheeks of the pulley are preferably curved to a radius corresponding to that of the smallest diameter to which the pulley can be contracted, and the edges of the intermediate sections are arranged to overlap the adjacent edges of the alternate sections more or less, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the extent of such overlapping being varried according to the diameter to rwhich the pulley is adjusted, so that when the sections are to be contracted to form a small periphery, as in Fig. at, the carriers are run inward along the radial slots, and the edges of the plates or segments overlap considerably, and around the periphery made up by these curved plates the driving band or belt g or chains, ropes, or the like is or are passed.

The sliding sleeves f, by the movement of which the peripheral diameter of the pulleys are varied, may be formed with a series of longitudinal slots or gaps f to form guides for the inner ends of the connecting links or arms e, before referred to, which have spherically-formed ends e turning in spherical sockets f in the sleeve. These seatings f in which the ball-joints work, are each formed in two halves, one half being made in a fixed collar f at the end of the sleeve and the other half in the corresponding collar f of a bush f slipped onto'or fitted to the sleeve and secured there by a lock-nut f or other means.

The pulleys A and B are mounted, respectively, upon the motor or driving shaft (1, receiving its motion from the engine through a pinion h or otherwise, and the driven axle (1 which may either constitute in itself the road-wheel axle or is suitably connected therewith, the said axles running in suitable bearings d 01, mounted in the frame of the vehicle and having a pair of sliding sleeves f,

disposed, respectively, on the opposite sides of the pulley and connected with the sliding carriers of the peripheral segment through the medium of the connecting-links c. A pair of long controlling or regulating levers are pivoted at z" j, respectively, to the frame or to a suitable support at a point equidistant between the two axles and pulleys, with the outer forked orlooped ends 2' 3 of these levers having opposite pairs of studs i j or equivalents engaging with annular grooves f of the bushes for expanding or contracting the one pulley B, while the other end parts of the said levers have similar studs at i 7' engaging with like grooves or races in the sleeves which govern the expansion and contraction of the other pulley A. The levers are extended or are provided with supplementary arms i which are respectively jointed at i j to a pair of screw-boxes 70 one of which is righthand screwed and the other left-hand screwed, in connection with which is a right and left hand threaded shaft is, working in suitable bearings with one end fitted to a bevelwheel 70, gearing with a second bevel-wheel k made fast to a hand-wheel shaft or pillar 7c, provided with a hand-lever 70 arranged convenient to the driver of the vehicle and by the turning of which the screw-shaft is ro-' tated, the screw-boxes are moved along it, and the levers are turned upon their fulcra in one direction or the other, whereby the diameter of one pulley is increased and that of the other pulley proportionately decreased, and as the driving belt, ropes, or the like pass over the two pulleys for communicating motion from the one to the other the ratio of the speeds of the driving and driven shafts is Varied accordingly. The levers are connected to the studs by slots m on the one part and pins n on the other part to admit of the angular movement of the said levers.

I wish it to be understood thatl do notlimit myself to the particular arrangement of the lever mechanism herein described for transmitting the motion to the slides or means which govern the expansion and contraction of the pair of pulleys, and also that the said governing means may be varied in various ways without departing from the nature of my invention.

If necessary, only one sliding sleeve may be employed in connection with each expanding and contracting pulley, although I prefer to employ them in pairs, arranged one each side the pulley, as herein described, with the sets of radial arms or connecting-links jointed, respectively, to the opposite ends of the adj ustable carriers of the peripheral segments.

Expanding and contracting pulleys constructed as hereinbefore described are applicable for all purposes in which power is transmitted at variable speeds and may either be used singly or in pairs. When used singly for receiving motion from or transmitting motion to an ordinary fixed pulley, I may employ any ordinary belt-tightening device for taking up the slack which occurs in the belt when the pulley is contracted.

Having fully described my invention, What I desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent is- I 1. An expanding and contracting pulley for use in connection with mechanism for the transmission of power at variable speeds consisting of an expanding and contracting periphery formed of a series of overlapping sections, slides for the said sections, and cheeks provided with radial guides within which operate the said slides, the said cheeks forming the sides of the pulley.

2. In mechanism for transmitting power at variable speeds, the combination of a pulley having an expanding and contracting periphery formed of a series of overlappingsections, slides for the said sections, and means for op erating the said slides, consisting of a series of arms or links jointly connected at their outer ends to the said slides, and a sliding sleeve connected to the other end of said links for operating the same.

3. In mechanism for transmitting power at variable speeds, the combination of a pulley having an expanding and contracting periphery formed of a series of overlapping sections, slides for the said sections, means for operating the said slides, consisting of a series of arms or links jointly connected at their outer ends, respectively, to the said slides and having their opposite ends formed in a spherical manner, a sliding sleeve, a collar, said sleeve and collar provided with spherical sockets to receive the spherical ends of the said links, and means for connecting the said collar and sleeve together.

4:. In a mechanism for transmitting power from a driving-shaft to a driven shaft at variable speeds, an expanding and contracting pulley mounted on the driving-shaft, an expanding and contracting pulley mounted on the driven shaft, each of said pulleys formed IIO of a series of overlapping sections, a belt con- AR'lllUlt GEORGE SEDDON lrl'llORD.

\Vitnesses:

H. D. JAMESON, F. L. RAND. 

